University of Maryland in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Sleep of Young Innocents
Photographed By Christopher Busta-Peck, March 26, 2008
1. The Sleep of Young Innocents Marker
Our father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever, Amen.
The Lord's Prayer from The King James Bible (1611)
Infant and childhood mortality took a gruesome toll on families in early Baltimore. Sophie and Walter Anderson honored the memory of their only child, Sophie, with a marble carving of a lamb curled up on a Bible. Despite its popularity as a symbol of the sleep of young innocents, the lamb is not found on any other grave at Westminster.
The Anderson's borrowed a popular phrase from the Lord's Prayer for Sophie's inscription which reads:
Thy will be done. Sophie Anderson Died February 18th, 1861, Aged 8 Years & 9 months.
The lamb sculpture was restored in the early 1980s by conservator Robert Pringle.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1815.
Location. 39° 17.412′ N, 76° 37.394′ W. Marker has
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. A Mother’s Grief (a few steps from this marker); John McDonogh (a few steps from this marker); The McDonoghs of Baltimore (a few steps from this marker); “…a truly affectionate wife” (within shouting distance of this marker); Westminster Church and Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); Final Rest (within shouting distance of this marker); Westminster Hall & Burying Ground: Where Baltimore's History Rests in Peace (within shouting distance of this marker); A Swashbuckling Merchant (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baltimore.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 8, 2021
2. The Sleep of Young Innocents Marker
Unfortunately, the marker has weathered significantly and is hard to read.
Photographed By Christopher Busta-Peck, March 26, 2008
3. The grave marker
Photographed By Christopher Busta-Peck, March 26, 2008
4. Location of marker
Credits. This page was last revised on October 8, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,643 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 28, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. 2. submitted on October 8, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3, 4. submitted on March 28, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio.
